Gaining work experience is a valuable thing to do as it can provide knowledge of industries and ultimately guide you in your future career path. Here are our top tips on planing summer student work experience.
Sometimes your university course may have a module where you are required to undertake a work placement in order to complete it, so that can easily add pressure to find the perfect role. Added the plethora of options out there from length of placement, to location and part vs full time – so where do you begin?
Location – where will you go?
There’s a whole world out there and plenty to discover, but it can be tricky to try and pinpoint exactly where you want to head next. One thing to consider is there a specific region that is known for the field you are looking to develop a career in eg. London and San Francisco are known for the technology scene. Also, think about if you have family or friends who are in a different country as they might have connections that can help you find your perfect student work experience.
Accommodation – where will you stay?
You will want to be comfortable during your placement and able to focus on the work, rather than deal with noisy neighbours or uncomfortable places. Your work experience is likely to feel intense and at the end of the day you will be wanting to unwind and get a good nights’ sleep to prepare for the next day. At Student.com we also offer short term student accommodation, as long as you are a registered student, so take a look at where you could stay!
Presentation – what will you say?
Many people focus on the interview but forget there is a lot of communication that goes on before you even step through the door. One simple point that can often be overlooked is to make sure social network accounts are suitable to be seen by potential employers or at least set to private. Another element which might grate with potential employers is a sloppy CV. Grammar, spelling and formatting are super important and it’s worth getting a CV double checked, triple checked and checked again for good measure. Also, think about your previous experience, no matter how small, and consider how you can position it. A lot of CVs are task based, rather than skills and experience. A potential employer will be keen to understand how you have demonstrated a can-do attitude, so think about what you can use as examples. Once you have secured your work experience, you will be fine when you keep some top tips for office life in mind.
It can seem daunting if you are considering doing summer student work experience in a new country, however if you break it down into manageable steps it can be easier to handle. The benefits you can experience from learning in a new country far outweigh the initial time investment to get it set-up, so the only question is where do you want to explore?
